Colorado Eagles assistant coach Greg Pankewicz explains a team drill to the 23 hockey players who were a part of the first day of training camp on Friday.

Written by

Kevin Lytle
KevinLytle@coloradoan.com

Riley Nelson has stepped on the ice to begin a season for the Colorado Eagles 10 times, but it still rattles the nerves every time his skates touch the ice for the first time each season.

"I wouldn't be doing it if I still didn't get excited every year to play the game," Nelson said after the Eagles' first practice of the season on Friday. "Obviously it's a deep passion for me to play so I'm just excited to get it going."

For Nelson, it is old hat to don the Colorado sweater at the start of training camp, but for a large chunk of the roster it is the first on the ice as Eagles. ...